The award-winning team behind 2016’s five-star The Devil Inside returns with a gripping new work.

In the frozen Arctic wastelands, an expeditionary team of scientists becomes trapped. Tensions rise and relationships crumble; and then something appears, out of the ice…

This fourth collaboration between composer Stuart MacRae and librettist Louise Welsh, a hugely successful partnership initially born of Five:15 – Operas Made in Scotland, promises a night of unrelenting dramatic tension and superb storytelling.

'Sizzles with energy...one of the most interesting, well sung and well produced pieces of opera that has been seen on the Scottish stage for quite a few years.' Opera Britannia on The Devil Inside, 2016

Director Matthew Richardson once again teams up with designer Samal Blak to bring MacRae and Welsh’s work to the stage. They are joined by a superb ensemble cast including former Scottish Opera Emerging Artist Jennifer France, fast making a name for herself as a contemporary music specialist, Scottish soprano Jeni Bern and Stephen Gadd (Flight 2018). Stuart Stratford conducts. Performances in Glasgow and Edinburgh are followed by a transfer to London.

Running time approx. 2 hours 20 mins

Sung in English with English supertitles

Special effects: The performance will contain strobe, flashing and bright lighting effects; haze and a pyrotechnic.

We catch up with ANTHROPOCENE creators Stuart MacRae and Louise Welsh to chat about how they go about creating a brand new opera, and how it feels to see all those months (years!) of work finally on-stage.

Anthropocene 2019 | teaser trailer

Something emerges from under the ice in our new new teaser trailer for Anthropocene.

On stage

Anthropocene 2019. Photo credit James Glossop

Anthropocene 2019. Photo credit James Glossop

Anthropocene 2019. Photo credit James Glossop

Anthropocene 2019. Photo credit James Glossop

Anthropocene 2019. Photo credit James Glossop

Anthropocene 2019. Photo credit James Glossop

Anthropocene 2019. Photo credit James Glossop

Anthropocene 2019. Photo credit James Glossop

Anthropocene 2019. Photo credit James Glossop

Anthropocene 2019. Photo credit James Glossop

Anthropocene 2019. Photo credit James Glossop

Anthropocene 2019. Photo credit James Glossop

Anthropocene 2019. Photo credit James Glossop

Anthropocene 2019. Photo credit James Glossop

Anthropocene 2019. Photo credit James Glossop

Anthropocene 2019. Photo credit James Glossop

Anthropocene 2019. Photo credit James Glossop

Anthropocene 2019. Photo credit James Glossop

Anthropocene 2019. Photo credit James Glossop

Anthropocene 2019. Photo credit James Glossop

Anthropocene 2019. Photo credit James Glossop

In rehearsal

Anthropocene 2019 in rehearsal. Credit Nadine Boyd

Anthropocene 2019 in rehearsal. Credit Nadine Boyd

Anthropocene 2019 in rehearsal. Credit Nadine Boyd

Anthropocene 2019 in rehearsal. Credit Nadine Boyd

Anthropocene 2019 in rehearsal. Credit Nadine Boyd

Anthropocene 2019 in rehearsal. Credit Nadine Boyd

Anthropocene 2019 in rehearsal. Credit Nadine Boyd

Anthropocene 2019 in rehearsal. Credit Nadine Boyd

Anthropocene 2019 in rehearsal. Credit Nadine Boyd

Anthropocene 2019 in rehearsal. Credit Nadine Boyd

Access

If you are visually impaired, you can enjoy the full opera experience with live commentary that describes the action on stage without compromising the music. Free touch tours including the set, props and costumes are also available before the show.

Touch Tours

GlasgowSat 26 Jan, 6pm

EdinburghSat 2 Feb, 6pm

Audio Described

GlasgowSat 26 Jan, 7.15pm

EdinburghSat 2 Feb, 7.15pm

Contact the box office at your local venue to book – tickets should be booked at least two weeks in advance. Discounts available. Touch tours only available to audio-description bookers. Guide dogs welcome. Find out more.

Get Closer

Widen your opera experience with a pre-show talk, or try an hour long taster that gives you an insight into our operas and how they are created.

Pre-show Talk

GlasgowSat 26 Jan, 6pm

EdinburghSat 2 Feb, 6pm

Tickets for Opera Unwrapped are just £5. Pre-show talks are free but should be reserved by calling the box office at your chosen venue. Find out more.